The retirement age should not be the same for everyone in the future. The role for retirement should be played by the development of life expectancy, the age of starting work as well as its demands and the period of payment of contributions. On average, the retirement pension should be received for 21.5 years. Labor Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL) told journalists after Friday’s meeting with President Petr Pavlo.
“I want us to set an objective principle where the retirement limit is linked to the development of life expectancy. It is important for us to anchor the principle that works today. The average period of receiving an old-age pension is 21.5 years. We would like that to be insurable for the future as well… The principles are not supposed to set one exhaustive limit (retirement age) that is the same for everyone. They are supposed to respond to how a person spent his productive age, in what profession, how long he studied, when he entered the labor market,” said Jurečka .
The retirement age is gradually being extended in the Czech Republic. For men it is two months a year and for women it is usually four. He should reach 65 in the 30s. “This border was, is and will be here,” said the minister. He has already stated that people in demanding professions should be able to retire up to five years earlier without a reduction in the amount, and others by a maximum of three years with a more significant reduction in the amount than today.
According to the latest pension yearbook, in 2021 people spent an average of 23.9 years on the old-age pension. Women in it were on average 28.1 years old, men 18.9 years old. The time has shortened in the covid epidemic after the extension. In 2020, the retirement pension lasted 24.5 years – 19.5 years for men and 28.5 years for women.
The minister did not specify whether the law should adjust it for 21.5 years. “We are looking for a way to determine the parameter objectively,” said Jurečka. According to him, people will know their retirement date well in advance.
The minister said that the goal of the reform is to ensure “dignified and fair pensions” even for those in their forties and younger. According to the head of the Department of Labor, the time for changes is now “in twelve minutes.” The pension insurance system ended in March with the worst deficit for the first quarter so far, namely 25.7 billion crowns.
The minister stated that the deepening of the slump is due to last year’s three valorisations, this year’s January increase and the educational one. 19 billion crowns are needed for this child bonus this year. The amount is for debt. “We rather expect that the education will be preserved… we are also looking for other tools to appreciate and support parenthood,” said the minister. He mentioned the preparation of the joint assessment base of spouses for pension calculation, which the government promises in the program statement.
The minister did not specify the date of presentation of proposals for changes to pensions and the consolidation package to restore finances. On Monday, May 15, the tripartite could discuss the upcoming adjustments.
After the meeting with the president, Jurečka said that he welcomes his interest in the issue of pensions. He would like the head of state to join the political discussion and contribute to finding an agreement between the coalition and the opposition. However, they did not agree on a specific course of action today with Pavel.
Shortly after his election, before taking office, Pavel said that he would like to help the government explain the necessity of the pension reform and the form of the individual steps. He mentioned, for example, the shift in the retirement age. He said reform was necessary and cosmetic fixes to ensure the sustainability of pensions into the future would not be enough.
